484 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
September 8. 
the regular style, and yet each and all of them he placed on 
a wrong principle after all. 
There are only two more violations of principle in this 
plan, and one of them is very common in the hest laid-out 
places. The first is the four flower-heds, marked d. w.; 
they are in regular pairs, hut their outlines do not cor¬ 
respond with the outlines of the figures of grass in which 
they stand—an unpardonable offence in the eye of a critic. 
The smaller beds next to d.w. also on a regular piece of 
grass, have the larger end rounded—a repetition of the 
same error on a smaller scale. These beds should have 
their broad ends nearly squared. 
The way of getting from the side terrace-walks to the 
middle fountain is very good indeed, as it gives an oppor¬ 
tunity of dividing your company, instead of “ following the 
rest like sheep, ” as is too often met with. 
At the middle of the curve behind each of the four beds, 
D.w., the breadth of grass is too narrow to the principal 
terrace-walk, and, therefore, too tempting to avoid being 
made use of to pass across the grass from one walk to the 
other. This is a very common error, and, in the present 
instance, it could not he avoided, except in two ways; first, 
by opening a walk from the centre of the ends of the walks 
on each side a.a. ; and secondly, by having some appropriate 
edging along the sides of the terrace-walk not lower than 
a foot or fifteen inches, so as to make it unlawful to step over 
it, however easily that may he done. Every other part of 
the plan is exceedingly good. 
I know a class of short-frock critics, in “tights,” who 
could not stoop to pick up their white kids if they had 
dropped, who would object, at once, to the curved walks all 
through the centre of this garden ; hut I have no sympathy 
for white gloves, except at wedding parties and polkas. 
Every curve here has its fellow in the opposite part, and 
then the principle of regularity is carried throughout, and 
that, too, in a better style for our English notions than if the 
most perfect design in all Italy or France were transplanted 
entire into any of our parks or pleasure-grounds. The four 
little triangular beds next to and round the fountain need 
not he in grass, although they are so in the plan. 
The chain pattern, which surrounds the whole, is very 
much approved of by many ladies, and I have seen it in 
many places, hut never heard a word against it. The way 
the two end chains are planted here is new to me. Irish 
Yews and Humeas alternately, with flowers round each, 
must look very pretty indeed, hut there is a good deal of 
gardening difficulty to he encountered in this planting. 
Every one of the Yews ought to be exactly either of the 
same height throughout, or rising in a progressive ratio 
from the outside comers to the middle; Humeas the same, 
among themselves, hut they need not he proportioned to the 
Yews, as an architect might wish them, although he might 
not know the growth of one plant from another. 
In the four grass plots where beds d.w. stand, there 
ought to he three beds in each, instead of one, if not four; 
two angle beds, one in each corner of the plot, with a circle 
just in the middle between them ; if only for some standard 
plant; but if that is not approved of, nor the walks sug¬ 
gested on each side a.a., the place is open to a half-moon¬ 
shaped bed, and the line “ between her horns ” may be a 
fancy scroll, if the real shape of a half-moon is an objection. 
We now see, in this series, how variedly different minds 
work out the self-same principle, or rule, that what is very 
well suited for one place may be the very contrary in another 
place; and that no mind, be it of the highest order, can ever 
be so useful in suggestions, as a great multitude of 
minds, even of every day run, when they are thus brought 
in contact for comparison. D. Beaton. 
Every profession lias a tribunal before which those 
who adopt it as their life’s occupation are obliged to 
appear, and to receive from that tribunal a certificate 
that they are worthy of being trusted with the spiritual, 
physical, or pecuniary interests of those who desire 
their aid. In England, our Universities, Medical Col¬ 
leges, o.ud Inns of Court, are the tribunals from whom 
our clergy, men of medicine, and lawyers, receive their 
licenses to practice. Whether they efficiently and satis¬ 
factorily perform their duties as examiners and licensers, 
it is not our province to enquire ; hut this we do know, 
that they do so far secure those professions from having 
scandalously inefficient characters among their mem- 
I bers, that, when one such is detected, it is wondered 
! and clamoured at as an exception, 
j This fact suggests that over some other occupations a 
similar examining and licensing tribunal might be 
! established advantageously ; and, among these, the 
first to arise before us is Gardening. 
We consider it quite possible to have a body of 
examiners incorporated, whose certificate should be the 
hest testimonial a gardener could tender to any one 
desirous of obtaining his services; hut it is not every 
I self-constituted body of examiners whose certificate 
1 would deserve, much less command, such influence. 
Whilst pondering over this subject, we observed that 
j at Liverpool was formed what is called the United Oar- 
I deners Registration Society ; and, having applied for 
further information, we readily were furnished with the 
following: — 
Officers’ Names for 1853-54. — Chairman, William 
Groves ; Vice-Chairman, William Turner; Treasurers, James 
Hume, John Postelwhaite; Secretary , George Thompson. 
RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
I. This Society shall he called the “ United Gardeners’ 
Registration Society.” 
II. The object of this Society is to investigate and register 
the capabilities and requirements of members in want of 
situations as Gardeners, so that employers, who may honour 
us with their favours, may readily fix upon the person to 
suit them, and be put into immediate communication with 
the same. 
III. No person be considered eligible for membership in 
this Society who is not a professional and practical Gar¬ 
dener, or in training for the same. 
IV. Each Gardener, on becoming a member of the above 
Society, is expected to exert his influence, in a judicious 
manner, to promote the objects of it, and do all that he can 
to elevate and protect the profession from being encroached 
upon by persons of inferior capabilities, who may take upon 
themselves the duties of a Gardener in connection with 
some other trade or calling. He must encourage, whenever 
practicable, the employment of under Gardeners in prefer¬ 
ence to ordinary labourers. 
V. To facilitate the operations of the above Society, each 
member must give notice to the Secretary when about to 
leave his situation. If he desires to be placed on the 
Register, he must forward a statement of his capabilities 
and requirements, signed by the Committee of the locality 
in which he resides. 
VI. If anything reflecting dishonour or discredit on any 
member of the above Society he known to another member 
of the same body, the latter must not hesitate to communi¬ 
cate the intelligence to the Committee, or any member 
thereof. 
VII. The business of the Society shall be conducted by a 
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, two Treasurers, Secretary, and 
Committee, consisting of as many as may be deemed neces¬ 
sary for the time being, with power to add to their number 
when required. There shall be a general election of officers 
every twelve months, in which the retiring officers are eligible 
for re-election. 
VIII. All documents or property held by out-going 
officers, in virtue of their office, shall be delivered up to the 
new officers as early as possible after their election. 
IX. Each person, on becoming a member of the above 
